Richard Miller Voice Competition and Daniel Okulitch: Honoring a Legacy of Excellence

Oberlin Conservatory’s Richard Miller Voice Competition—founded in 2023 by professor Salvatore Champagne '85 who serves as the competition director—is now in its second year. The competition shines a spotlight on exceptional high school vocal talent from across the nation. It honors the legacy of a former faculty member renowned for his contributions to vocal pedagogy. This year's event saw a remarkable turnout of talented young singers, who competed in the morning and received afternoon masterclasses from Oberlin voice faculty and distinguished alumnus Daniel Okulitch.

Okulitch, a world-renowned opera singer and former student of Richard Miller, returned to Oberlin to lead a guest masterclass for the competition participants. His approach made the one-on-one experience deeply personal for each student. “Sometimes, very short masterclasses are like speed chess,” Okulitch says. “It rewards bold, unpredictable moves that keep the person you’re playing (against) on their toes or maybe surprise them. And that’s what shorter masterclasses are; you have to do something that will surprise them out of their habits and introduce a new idea.”

Richard Miller, whose tenure at Oberlin left an indelible mark on generations of voice students and educators, was celebrated through the second annual competition and Okulitch’s participation. Miller was known internationally for his unique pedagogical approach, which focused on building strong foundational technique with undergraduate students exclusively—an approach which Miller described as “pushing baby ducks into the water.” 

On Miller’s influence, Okulitch shares, “He’s with me in every lesson that I teach,” and describing him as a “Renaissance man” whose teachings continue to resonate deeply with both teachers and students.

Okulitch notes the distinctiveness of Oberlin’s Miller Competition compared to other vocal contests. He expressed his surprise and admiration for the level of talent among high school participants, many of whom he found to be on par with college-level singers. “It’s great because it attracts high-level students to Oberlin, and that’s ultimately what happened to me as well.” When Okulitch was 17, he attended a summer program at Oberlin that was run by Oberlin faculty Gerald Crawford and Daun Mahy.

Reflecting on his time at Oberlin, Okulitch spoke about the profound friendships and professional connections he made, including fellow professional collaborators Rhiannon Giddens, Michael Preacely, and Limmie Pulliam, who were all at Oberlin at the same time. He emphasized the focused, distraction-free environment of Oberlin, which allows students to fully develop their skills.

The Richard Miller Voice Competition, along with the involvement of alumni like Okulitch, continues to build a bridge between past and present generations of vocalists. As Okulitch put it, “It’s a beautiful thing for Professor Champagne to create this competition and scholarship,” ensuring that Miller’s influence endures and inspires future generations of singers and teachers.